Massive Flare Captured by "Hinode" (Solar-B) (Forwarded)

National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ)
Tokyo, Japan

Contact:
press (at) solar-b.nao.ac.jp

2007 March 21

Massive Flare Captured by "Hinode" (Solar-B)

Hinode (Solar-B) successfully captured a massive flare occurred in active
region NOAA 10930 on 13 December 2006. It was one of the largest flares
occurred in the period of solar activity minimum.

Data obtained with three telescopes on Hinode are in good quality. X-ray
Telescope (XRT) saw high temperature coronal loop and detected wave
propagation associated with the flare. Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) found
the collision of two spots well in advance of the flare, which implies the
twisting of magnetic fields in the corona. Extereme-ultraviolet Imaging
Spectrometer (EIS) detected supersonic eruption during the flare.

This is the first time to get high resolution comprehensive data set ranging
from magnetic fields, which are the energy source of the flare, and dynamics
of high temperature plasma produced by the flare. Hinode team is now
intensively studying the precious data.

This flare triggered a huge magnetic storm and aurora activity stretched to
the border of Hokkaido, north island of Japan, where the aurora is rarely
observed. Solar observation by Hinode will contribute to the space weather
forecast.

Sequence of XRT images shows the evolution of high temperature coronal
loops. Strongly sheared loop structure had relaxed in the course of the
flare. A cusp shape structure is found in the later phase, which implies
occurrence of magnetic reconnection. The field of view is 512" by 512"
corresponding to 3.7x10**5 km by 3.7x10**5 km on the Sun.

SOT images in Ca II H spectral line shows separating flare ribbon in the
chromosphere. Fine structure of flare loops are also noticed. The field of
view is 216" by 108" corresponding to 1.6x10**5 km by 7.9x10**4 km on the
Sun.

High resolution vector magnetogram processed from Spectro-Polarimeter of
SOT. Colliding spots are clearly seen in the sequence of data. Left panel
shows horizontal magnetic field vectors overlying G-band image, while right
one indicates the same vectors overlying longitudinal magnetogram. Black and
white correspond to S and N polarity.

[NOTE: Images and movies supporting this release are available at
http://solar-b.nao.ac.jp/news_e/20061213_flare_e.shtml ]